To A Child
Edith Nesbit 1858-1924
One of My Favorite Flower Fairy Poems
The Fairies have been busy while you slept: They have been laughing where the sad rains wept. They have taught beauty to the ignorant flowers, set tasks of hope to weary wind-torn bowers and heard the lessons learned in school- rooms cold by seedling snapdragons and marigold. At dawn, while still you slept, I grew aware how good the fairies are, how many and fair.
The fairy whose delightful gown is red..across a corner of our garden sped, and where her flying raiment fluttered past, it’s roseate reflection still is cast: Red poppies by the rhododendrums’s side, Paeonies gorgeous in their summer pride, and red may-bushes by the old red wall..shower down their crimson petals over all.
Then she whose gown is gold, and gold her hair, swept down the golden steep straight sunbeam stair, she lit the tulip lamps, she lit the torch of hollyhock beside the cottage porch. She dressed the honeysuckle in fringe of gold, she gave the king-cups fairy wealth to hold, she kissed St. John’s wort till it opened wide, she set the yarrow by the river side.
Then came the lady all whose robes are white: she made the pale bud blossom in delight, set silver stars upon the jasmine’s hair, and gave the stream white lilly-buds to wear. She painted lilies white and pearl-white phlox, white poppies, passion flowers and grey leaved stocks. Her pure kind touch redeemed the most forlorn, and even the vile petunia smiled, new born.
